{
  "id": 12482649,
  "title": "Korea's $449 bil. crypto economy leads in East Asia: Chainalysis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/koreas-449-bil-crypto-economy-leads-in-east-asia-chainalysis-12482649",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-06T22:27:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/cryptocurrency/20261007/koreas-449-bil-crypto-economy-leads-in-east-asia-chainalysis"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea's digital asset economy reached a staggering $449.1 billion between July 2025 and June 2026, making it the largest in East Asia, according to data released by Chainalysis, a global blockchain data platform. The report titled \"East Asia Crypto Adoption Report: South Korea's AI Trade Comes to Crypto\" reveals that Korea's crypto economy grew by 12.3 percent from the previous year, surpassing Japan's $228.3 billion, Hong Kong's $192.2 billion, China's $176.3 billion, and Taiwan's $140.4 billion. This remarkable growth was primarily driven by the retail-driven crypto market in South Korea, despite the limited involvement of major financial institutions. AI-related cryptocurrencies emerged as a significant indicator of retail enthusiasm, with investors flocking to tech giants like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix amid the AI-driven stock market rally, and subsequently pouring money into digital assets linked to AI-focused projects and infrastructure. By June 2026, AI-related cryptocurrencies accounted for approximately 18 percent of the total crypto economy in South Korea.",
  "summary": "Korea's digital asset economy reached $449.1 billion from July 2025 to June 2026, the largest in East Asia, data showed Tuesday, as retail investors increasingly turned to artificial intelligence (AI)-related cryptocurrencies. According to global blockchain data platform Chainalysis' report, \"East Asia Crypto Adoption Report: South Korea's AI Trade Comes to Crypto,\" Korea's crypto economy grew…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea's $449 bil. crypto economy leads in East Asia: Chainalysis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/koreas-449-bil-crypto-economy-leads-in-east-asia-chainalysis",
        "published": "2026-10-06T22:12:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}